Save money AND lose weight
2 months ago
I am sure that it will be healthier, too.
People who have done this
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How to eat at home more often
It made me
richer & thinner
 "It was only difficult at first`"
How I did it: This has become second nature. When we got serious about buying a home, we knew we had to change the way we spend money. Most of our spending money was going toward eating out. We started meal planning and grocery shopping once a week and those 2 things were the big key for us. Having food in the house at all times is necessary, otherwise, we end up at Chili's/Chipotle/Panera/etc. We still go to those places, but not nearly as often which makes it more special when we do splurge. Lessons & tips: Plan your meals for the week so you know what to buy when you are at the grocery store. Keep an easy back up on hand (frozen pizza, skillet meal) so you have something when you are too exhausted to cook. |
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More "How I Did It" stories
It made me
healthier.
How I did it: This made me save so much money and helped me start eating healthier. I'd say I probably eat at home every 4 out of 5 meals. I just simply stopped eating out. I remember how many calories, fat, sodium etc. are in restaurant food and I don't feel as tempted. I also make sure I have quick and easy options at home waiting for me. Like sandwiches, pasta, etc. Read how I did it…
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
KatsLovinLife is hopeful for a great 2009!
Temptation
15 months ago
We were tempted today and made the right decision! The realtor dropped us off at our car parked in the Panera/Applebees parking lot. Both great places that we spend far too much money in. Instead, we strolled down the plaza to Publix & bought some deli items to make our own lunch. We saved calories & cash.
KatsLovinLife is hopeful for a great 2009!
Groceries are expensive!
15 months ago
Not as expensive as eating out, of course, but seeing the total at the register all at one time is shocking (rather than split up between meals). I spent $112 on what I calculate to be 5 dinners, some lunches, and a few other necessities. Not bad considering going out costs the hubs and me $25-55 each time.
doing well
16 months ago
I have not eaten in a restaurant in 3 whole days! Not even an ice cream cone! I am really doing well. It’s truly been more about saving money than my health, so the lack of fast food in my body is a side effect of me trying to spend less. For once a side effect that is positive.
not so good
17 months ago
I am doing terrible with this one. I tried to eat lunch at home today. I fixed a grilled cheese and I was starving a couple of hours later. I then fixed 2 hot dogs and ate them (no buns). I felt like the Very Hungry Caterpillar because not long after, I was still hungry. Finally, at 430, I went to KFC and got some food and then I finally felt full. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I have got to get the eating under control for so many reasons.
A weekly schedule might help
19 months ago
I think it would help if we set certain days of the week we eat at home versus eating out. I thought if we plan for it that might be easier to stick to.
Unfortunately my getting home late really messes us up. When it’s late either I feel too exhausted to cook dinner or my hubby wants to go out and I say yes out of guilt. So this may not get better until I start getting home earlier.
Arktoi is totally revamping her list.
Grrr! Argh!
19 months ago
This is ridiculous. We spent more than $400 eating out last month. $400!!! That’s enough to replace my now-dead iPod and get at least one pair of nice vegan sandals online, including shipping! We have to get this eating out thing under control. I don’t consider myself materialistic, but there are certain things I’d really like to have right now:
- a new iPod ($250)
- a couple pairs of nice, comfortable, non-leather shoes, including sandals so I can start wearing skirts and dresses ($200?)
- pants that fit me now that I’ve lost some weight ($100?)
- new bras (the elasticity is rapidly going out of them… after 3 years) ($100?)
- a couple pairs of running shorts that don’t chafe (only have one pair) ($60?)
- some new clothes for Chris (???)
I’m not saying I’d run out and buy all of this at once. Obviously, we’d be in bigger trouble than we are now. But if we weren’t blowing $400/month eating out, we could certainly start on this list, not to mention paying down more of our debt, working on the house, and setting some money aside for the move. Grrr! I’m so frustrated by my own lack of willpower!
Arktoi is totally revamping her list.
Necessity is the mother of... er... progress.
19 months ago
On Sunday evening, I realized I’d neglected to enter two transaction into our check register, which left us a lot shorter than I would’ve liked for the week. Even if I’d known, there isn’t much I could’ve done about it. We hadn’t exactly gone on a crazy spending spree or anything, just our usual trips to Target and the grocery store for essentials. Anyway, because we were really broke, we had no choice but to pack lunches and eat dinners at home this week. We both got paid today, so I know we’re going to be tempted to blow all our money on food this weekend, but we really need to be good and continue to limit the eating out.
This goal is so hard for us. Just when I think we’re making real progress, we slip back into a week of eating out every meal. My goal is to limit our meals out for next week to 3, including lunches.
Not doing great
19 months ago
I’m not doing so well on this goal. This is another one that will require baby steps. When we bought groceries last night I made a list of meals I could do at home this week, so hopefully I will be inspired to cook more at home and use up some of the goodies we bought.
Even a couple nights over the next week would be an improvement. Hopefully this will be easier when I become more consistent about getting home earlier and can organize my week so I don’t have special projects for my family taking up the evening so often.
